SpongeBob memes are so popular that Nickelodeon is turning them into toys. The nostalgic show has kept its cultural clout by becoming a main source for viral memesthat are surprisingly wholesome—given the internet’s habit of corrupting anything innocent (ahem, Pepe the Frog). Instead, the memes are silly, if not a touch cynical, making them safe content for Nickelodeon to commoditize. Imagination SpongeBob, Surprised Patrick, and Handsome Squidward are just some of the figurines leaving Bikini Bottom for the real world. (Vox)
